The inaugural meeting of a regional MPs committee has been labelled “undemocratic and unnecessary” by Wokingham MP John Redwood.

The South East Regional Grand Committee held its first meeting last Monday, however Mr Redwood compared proceedings to a press conference from the Soviet Union, pointing out MPS were unable to amend motions under consideration by the committee.

They also could not call a vote or change the committee’s way of operating.

He has called for the committee to be wound up.

He said: “It had all the atmosphere of a Soviet press conference, as it was a stage set for the government to tell grateful victims of the recession that the government would intervene to make it right in the end.

“It was as democratic as a show trial.”

The committee has 82 MPs, however more than 50 did not attend the first meeting.